Liverpool and Arne Slot facing unwanted 72-year record with daunting task up next

Liverpool's loss to Manchester United on Sunday puts them on the cusp of equalling an unwanted piece of history this week with a Champions League clash to come against Frankfurt.

The Reds head to Germany trying to snap a run of four successive losses in all competitions. Defeat to the Bundesliga outfit would make it five reverses in a row - the first time since September 1953 that the Merseysiders have had to deal with such a dire run of form.

The run began with a late loss at Crystal Palace before Galatasaray and Chelsea also got the better of them. The international break has not served as a reset with their arch rivals able to secure a shock late win at Anfield.

Not since Brendan Rodgers was at the helm have the Reds been beaten four times on the spin. That was back in 2014 when Newcastle, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Palace all got the better of Liverpool within the space of three weeks.

Summer signing Hugo Ekitike will hope that his new club's unwanted run is not extended when he returns to his former home. It was his form at Frankfurt that convinced Liverpool to spend £79million to acquire him only months ago.

Liverpool's recent run has seen them relinquish top spot to Arsenal and Manchester City, who only weeks ago were eight points adrift of the Reds, are now above them after leaping into second. A win for Bournemouth took them up to third and leaves the Reds in fourth.

Arne Slot refused to write off his team's recent run as a "blip" as the losses continue to come. A number of their major names are not hitting the levels they have done in prior seasons as the Dutch coach challenged his players to overcome the current situation.

He said: "That depends on if we can keep bringing these performances in, and as we all know in football if you start to lose a game of football one, two, then three, then four, you always find the same challenges. Players that thought they maybe had to play longer, or didn't deserve to go out, or these kind of things."

Liverpool by no means have a generous run of fixtures ahead. Following their trip to Germany they head to Brentford, who have caused problems for the Premier League's top teams. They then host Palace in the Carabao Cup and Aston Villa to conclude a period of four games in 10 days.

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